A system for analyzing athletic activity is usable with an article of footwear including a sensor system with a plurality of force sensors configured to sense force exerted by a user's foot, an electronic module contained within the article of footwear, and a plurality of sensor leads connecting the sensors to the electronic module, wherein the electronic module collects data based on force input from the sensors and transmits the data. The system also includes an electronic device in communication with the electronic module. The electronic device includes a processor that receives the data from the electronic module, compares the data to a footstrike template corresponding to a desired footstrike pattern to determine whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, and generates an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist, which may also include a degree of such deviation.

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.

A position sensing assembly for a tensioning system designed to provide tension to a lace, cord, or other type of strand is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis and the position sensing assembly. The position sensing assembly includes a shaft, an indicator tab, and an optical sensing unit. The position sensing assembly assists in controlling the degree to which the strand is tightened and loosened. The position sensing assembly prevents tightening of the strand when the strand is meant to be loosened.

Proposed is smart lifting shoes for taking exercise, each shoe including: an outsole configured to have combination through-holes that correspond to portions, respectively, of the sole, to have an accommodation groove in a center of an upper part thereof, the center corresponding to a center of the sole, and to have a connection groove; sensor units within upper portions of the combination through-holes, respectively; a controller including: a pressure reception module within the accommodation groove and receiving pressure information measured by the sensor units; a balance measurement module computing a balance of the sole on the basis of the pressure information and generating balance information; a power supply module supplying power; and a communication module transmitting the pressure information and the balance information; and adjustment enabling portions, each having a terminal portion on an upper part thereof, that are closely connected into the combination through-holes, respectively.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot or about the footwear.

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.

A gait analysis method to be performed by an electronic device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first sensing value of a first sensor unit and a second sensing value of a second sensor unit sensed for each time stamp from a shoe including the first sensor unit corresponding to a ball of a foot or a toe and the second sensor unit corresponding to a heel, determining a landing method of a user of the shoe based on the first sensing value and the second sensing value, calculating a ground contact starting point of a stance by a first method if the determined landing method is a first landing method, and calculating a ground contact starting point of a stance by a second method different from the first method if the determined landing method is a second landing method.

A system for measuring power output of a runner is disclosed. In some embodiments the system comprises a first sensor component including a first sensor, microprocessor, and a signal transceiver; a second sensor component including a second sensor and a signal transmitter; wherein the first sensor is configured to measure a vertical velocity and horizontal velocity, the second sensor is configured to measure the slope angle of a foot of the runner during a stance phase of the foot, the signal transmitter configured to send slope angle data, the signal transceiver configured to receive the slope angle data from the signal transmitter, and the microprocessor has computing instructions configured to calculate a power output based on the vertical velocity, horizontal velocity, and slope angle data.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for transforming footwear. A footwear system includes one or more portions configured in a first profile. The footwear system includes one or more sensors configured to generate a value based on a surface in contact with at least one of the one or more portions. The footwear system includes an actuator configured to change, responsive to determining that the value satisfies a profile configuration condition, a configuration of the one or more portions from the first profile to a second profile in accordance with the surface.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for transforming footwear. A footwear system includes one or more portions configured in a first profile. The footwear system includes one or more sensors configured to generate a value based on a surface in contact with at least one of the one or more portions. The footwear system includes an actuator configured to change, responsive to determining that the value satisfies a profile configuration condition, a configuration of the one or more portions from the first profile to a second profile in accordance with the surface.